RESEARCH METHODS FOR NUTRITION AND EXERCISE 1 - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module is designed to help you to acquire the introductory knowledge and skills required to plan and conduct research studies. The module focuses on various research skills (including research design, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, critical review). The module leads into BMS3057 during level 6, where study design and statistical analysis of data are explored further. You will also gain skills and knowledge to prepare for conducting your Dissertation module in level 6.

Module provider

School of Biosciences

Module Leader

DE CRUZ Nicholas (Biosciences)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

 

•             Principles of research methods

•             Searching scientific literature

•             Critical appraisal in research

•             Fundamentals of study design

•             Ethical principles in human research

•             Statistical approaches to qualitative and quantitative research

•             Case studies in human research

•             How to select, use and interpret statistics using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS)

•             Presentation of data in tables and figures

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

A strong understanding of appropriate research design and analytical techniques required to undertake a major project dissertation in level 6. This module provides students with authentic assessments that are appropriately linked to the learning outcomes and offer various pathways of learning. The research proposal and data analysis abstract relate to the practical application of tasks in real world settings, preparing students for a lifetime of learning after graduation.

  Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
1.    Assignment 1 – 2000-word research proposal (60%). LO’s assessed: LOO1, LOO2, LOO4, LOO5
2.    Assignment 2 – 300-word data analysis abstract (40%). LO’s assessed: LOO3, LOO5

Formative assessment
•    Example research proposals and published abstracts are provided to give students formative information for assessment.
•    Regular question and answer sessions to speak with the multidisciplinary academic staff contributing to the module. 
•    Post-tutorial tasks are scheduled throughout the BMS2076 timetable, that will be discussed and reflected upon at the next tutorial, including:
•    the searching of 3 scientific papers relevant to their project
•    a written methodology of a mock research scenario
•    The critique of a published research paper
•    Presentation of graphs and tables

Feedback
•    Verbal feedback following lectures or during tutorials.
•    Feedback to specific queries via email, with responses being made available to all via Surrey Learn or during tutorials as appropriate generic class feedback to practical reports.
•    Discussion boards available after all lectures and specific assessment discussion boards open to all and allows anonymous questioning or comments.  
•    Individual feedback available through rubric scores and comments on Turnitin. Published within 3 weeks of submission date.
•    Individual feedback available, and encouraged, in a one-to-one meeting with student directly. 

Module aims

• Develop the knowledge and skills to plan research projects in their respective disciplines.
• Advance an understanding of different types of research design and analysis appropriate to the different research projects.
• Provide a framework to understanding the important concepts and challenges in the design and implementation of projects involving human participants.
• Promote the importance of research for evidence-based practice.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to ensure that students achieve the relevant module learning outcomes. The student will also develop an understanding of how to conduct research, leading to important integration with level 6 modules whereby gaining competencies in designing and analyzing research are key pre-requisites (BMS3057, BMS3076). Students will learn how to input and analyze data sets in a proficient and scientific manner through the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

 

Students will have access to pre-recorded videos and slides (in PDF format). In person teaching will be in the form of lectures, tutorials, and seminars in order to develop subject specific knowledge and provide formative feedback, discussion and summative examinations. These sessions will include interactive tasks such as quizzes and case study discussions. Students will also be provided directed study, typically involving a weekly set of tasks on Surrey Learn and/or additional reading. Students will also be encouraged to participate in the online discussion boards, in addition to in person interaction with peers and lecturers. Students who actively participate in the module activities will be successful in undertaking the assessments.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS2076

Other information

The School of Biosciences and Medicine is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:

Global and Cultural - Students will gain knowledge about inclusivity in research and themes of justice with regards to distributing the benefits and burdens of research equally - across ethnicity, social and economic factors.

Digital capabilities - Students receive 'on demand' digital content that is designed to support on campus face to face learning. Students learn how to use G*Power, Microsoft®Excel, and SPSS.

Employability - The module teaches students skills needed to critically analyse research to inform future practice. Authentic assessments provide discipline specific, real-world tasks, such as to analyse and summarise in an abstract and research proposal.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.